We are all Insignificant. Don’t turn back if you are walking long way.
——Interview with action movie star, director: BOLO YEUNG
By Lilyma
I was not able to meet Bolo in April because not having enough time. After coming back from Canes, I accidentally met him in Beijing. He came to Beijing to discuss some business collaboration. I had a chance to have an interview with him. Rather than a proper interview, it was actually a small talk about movies, life and a review of the 1970s and 1980s with easygoing, cheerful Bolo.
The first time I met Bolo was yesterday in a restaurant. We did not talk a lot as we did not know each other very well. Bolo is a quiet person. But it was a bit different. Before doing martial art, Bolo did bel canto. He told me about his story when he was learning opera. As I also did opera before, we found a lot in common which gave me chance to know Bolo again from lots of different aspects including interest, experience and so on. I can draw the conclusion that Bolo is a both a good teacher and a five star friend.
BOLO YEUNG: Pisces. Acted in about 250 movies, a doyen of us among the film industry.
I heard that Bolo met some black bros when he was talking with Gao Fei in a bar at 16th night. They came to him and took photo with him. One of them said that when he was a kid, his favourite TV program was a talk show hosted by a white guy wearing a white gown talking about the Chinese martial art movie < Enter the Dragon >. He was really a super star in American at that time.
Here is some part of the interview of this afternoon (18th June). Let’s have a look and get some knowledge about Mr Yeung.
Lilyma: Basically, Bolo has been an action movie director and started shooting movie in Hong Kung 10 years before I was born. What was it like at that time?
Bolo Yeung: In the 1970s, I was an action movie director in Hong Kung. During that time, the independent film was in popular in Honk Kung. I left “邵氏” in 1971 and started to shoot my own films such as < Enter the Dragon > (1973), < Chinese Hercules >(1973) and <潮洲拳王>(1973).
Lilyma: Are action movies at that time different with those shoot now?
Bolo Yeung: At that time, action movies were mainly martial arts, kick and boxing only with out heavy weapons. Even blades and swords were rarely appeared in the movies until Hark Tsui (Xu Ke) made his in 1983.
Then there were action comedies. Jack Chen started to show up on the stage with (1978) and (1976) …etc.
Lilyma: When did you go to the Hollywood?
Bolo Yeung: I went to the Hollywood in 1986 for a movie . It was the first movie that Jean-Claude Van Damme and I worked together. I acted a very bad guy in that movie.
It was Jean-Claude Van Damme’s first movie to act the leading role and he really had his name up with that movie.
After that it was in 1990, with Jean-Claude Van Damme again.
Lilyma: Was the acted by you and Bruce Lee affirmed by the Hollywood?
Bolo Yeung: Yes. This movie was invested by Warner Bros and goldenharvest.
Lilyma: Is it amazing to combine music and Kung Fu? I heard Mr Yeung did music before learning martial art.
Bolo Yeung: Well, music in action movie should match the movie. Some musicians just make music for action movies randomly as they don’t understand the movement, methodology, rule and rhythm of the Kung Fu. There are very few musicians who know Kung Fu and vice versa
Lilyma: Tell me something about the Qigong?
BOLO YEUNG： Qigong is difficult and complicated. Basically, it is concerning breath.
People don’t know the correct way to breathe. Why do I say this? A small puppy’s bark can pass even further than human’s yelling. This is because people don’t know how to use the breath. The breath directly interferes with the singer. Nowadays pop singers don’t need to be good to be popular. Therefore many pop singers have louder voices talking than singing.
Let’s look back to 1970s. At that time, Deng Li Jun was already the hottest star. Even though, she still went to Japan to have training. She woke up to practice at 5 o’clock every morning, 2 hours earlier than the other singers. People with her persuaded her to have more sleep as they thought her CD would still be sold a lot even Deng did not practice. She answered that the reason why she would rather get up early to practice than sleep was she did not only sing to fans but also to professionals.
Being successful doesn’t equal to excellence and vice versa. Sometimes pianist can’t afford the piano while people who can afford the piano can’t play it. A lot of artists are excellent but not successful. And also there are lots of succeeded people without any excellence. Deng Li Jun just wanted to be not only successful but also excellent. It was a self requirement without any pressure from anybody other than herself.
When I have no movie to make I still practice martial art a lot. It is not working if you just start practicing 3 months before the shooting. It is impossible to show people your best in 3 months.
Among those people who have religion, there are small proportions of people who do good things but conditionally. They are opportunists. The reason why they do good things is the fear of the hell and the desire for the heaven. This kind of person may not necessarily still do good things if there is no heaven or hell. This kind of person made the meaning of people into data. A lot of things are screwy now. Confucianism nearly disappeared. Taoism became the tool to tell geomantic omen. Even the Buddhism temple is became a profiting organization. There are even more. But I don’t think I would like to talk about it anymore.
Lilyma: Can we talk about your work experience with Bruce Lee?
Bolo Yeung: A lot people ask me about Bruce especially foreigners. What kind of person he was? He was a man with specially thoughts. He was affable to people working for him. He drove Mercedes-Benz and crouched in the dust playing pokers with his staff. But when meeting his boss, he was always the one sitting while his boss standing.
Lilyma: Was he the kind of person who attached importance to personal loyalty or brotherhood?
Bolo Yeung: We can’t just say he attached importance to it or not. He would just say: I am what I am.
Lilyma: Was he doing himself in the movie?
Bolo Yeung: The characters he did in his movies were all heroes. They were owerful, but simple. In the real life, Bruce Lee was a people with deep inside. He thought about a lot of things nothing to do with martial art.
Such as how we should do to be a human?
Such as where are we from and what we come to this world for? Is there a God or any higher power? Is there metempsychosis?
What he advocated was “add to it”. Add a bit to your energy, skill and spirit and so on. Everything needs to be added on a bit everyday. Thus people can progress.
Lilyma: Can I think it was his self requirement not to be satisfied by the current status?
Bolo Yeung: Yes. Always look for breakthrough. Those who can deny themselves and often make breakthroughs will never be defeated and never be eliminated.
Most of people are even not brave enough to question the tradition. How could they be supposed to question the rules they are executing for decades?
Why do we bother thinking about these things? What will we get to research them? Is there any commercial benefit? No! As a martial art master, it is more realistic to open more martial are academies to earn more money. So, why do we explore these things? The martial art needs people to push to progress. We have to break the boundary of the rigid criterion, outdated traditions and all which prevent martial art from progressing.
Lilyma: What’s your understanding of martial art?
Bolo Yeung: How do we judge whether a thing is right or wrong? We should look at its purpose.
What the purpose of martial art?Is it for a healthy body? Is it for good moral? Is it for better self-restraint? Each of them is the purpose of martial art but none of them is the ultimate one.
The ultimate purpose of the martial art is to defeat your enemy at quickly as possible.
If this is the ultimate purpose of martial art, we have the reason to think about whether the way of modern athletic wushu taolu (the name for a modern sport similar to gymnastics involving the performance of adapted Chinese bare-handed and weapons forms judged to a set of contemporary aesthetic criteria for points) is correct or not.
Lilyma: Is this the origin of martial art?
Bolo Yeung: Opinions differ from each other. It leaves people to judge by their selves. I don't like judging people are right or wrong. But in my opinion, the way to judge a thing is to look at its ultimate purpose.
Lilyma: I am always dreaming to knock my enemies down but haven't got any chance till now. lol.
Bolo Yeung: Let’s talk about an experiment first.
If we play classical music in front of metal particulates or sand, we will see them form into graphics. These substances respond to the audio broadcasted to them.
Playing the same music to plants will make them grow better. But if we play noise instead of classical music, these plants will die away. Music affects people. It changes people’s mood, mind and even energy.
Good music has its symmetry, segmentation and rhythm which benefit people. For example, Mozart’s第一大调and 双钢琴变奏曲 can improve spatial inferential ability.
Lilyma: I am totally with your point. I have experience about what you said. Actually, music is a perfect tool for me to adjust myself in my work and in my life. I can’ t imagine how I can be without music.
Bolo Yeung: The foundation of our Chinese culture includes the Great Wall, Tai Chi and “The Art of War”.
Great wall was about defending. So was Tai Chi and so was “The Art of War”.
Why do we always defend? Tai Chi never actively attacks. The art of war says “Retreating when the enemy advances”.
Bruce Lee thought in different way. His way is advancing when the enemy advances. I would like to point this out by this chance. Exports are welcome to enter into it.
Lilyma: In 2006, there was a ranking of the top 10 “Kung Fu” movie stars on Yahoo. You were ranked in second place in front of Jet Li and Jacky Chen and just behind Bruce Lee. How do you like this ranking?
Bolo Yeung: It was voted by about 50 thousand people. Experts and fans classified me into Jeet Kune Do. PS: There are a lot of people who are said to be doing JKD. But actually they are Just maKing Dollars rather than doing real JKD. Anyway it is kidding.
Lilyma: Aha, Bolo I like your humour. Oh well, I heard years ago, there was a band wrote a song for you. We heard about this song. What do you think about it?
Bolo Yeung: We are all Insignificant. Don’t turn back if you are walking long way.
Lilyma: I finally found a title for this interview till now. We are all Insignificant. Don’t turn back if you are walking long way. Just give this sentence back to you Mr Yeung.
2007.6.18 Afternoon
STILLS
这是美国2006年评比世界十大功夫明星的排名：
Bruce Lee 李小龙 （11485票）28% 排名：1
Bolo Yeung杨斯 (7853票) 19% 排名：2
Jet Li 李连杰 (7336票)18% 排名： 3
Jackie Chan 成龙 (5927)票14% 排名：4
Sammo Hung 洪金宝 (1519票) 4% 排名：5
Mart Dacascos (1484票) 4% 排名：6
Brandon Lee 李国豪-李小龙之子 (2881票)7% 排名： 7
Donnie Yen 甄子丹 (1159票)3% 排名：8
Yuen Biao 元彪 (1011票)2% 排名：9
Robin Shou 仇雲波 (514票) 1% 排名：10
BOLO YEUNG WORKS
- Blizhniy Boy: The Ultimate Fighter (2007) .... Erik's Trainer
- Tiger Claws II (1997) .... Chong
- Fist of Legend 2: Iron Bodyguards (1996)
- Shootfighter II (1995) .... Shingo
- Fearless Tiger (1994) .... Master on Mountain
... aka Black Pearls (Canada: English title)
- TC 2000 (1993) .... Master sumai
- Tiger Claws (1992) .... Chong
- Ironheart (1992) .... Ice
- Shootfighter: Fight to the Death (1992) .... Shingo
... aka Shootfighter
- Xue ran hong chen (1992)
... aka Mega Force from Highland
- Double Impact (1991) .... Moon
- Breathing Fire (1991) (as Bolo Young) .... Thunder
- Bloodfight (1989) .... Chang Lee
... aka Final Fight (International: English title)
... aka Sportfight (Philippines: English title)
- Bloodsport (1988) .... Chong Li
- Yi qi liang fu (1988) .... Muscleman
... aka One Husband Too Many
- Bat ye tin (1987)
... aka Bu ye tian (China: Mandarin title)
... aka Killer's Nocturn
... aka No Evening Day (literal English title)
- Piao cuo can (1987)
... aka To Err Is Human
... aka To Err Is Humane
- Foo gwai lit che (1986) .... Cameo
... aka Fu gui lie che (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
... aka Millionaire's Express (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Shanghai Express (USA: DVD title)
... aka Wealthy Train (literal English title)
- Long zai jiang hu (1986) .... Thug
... aka Legacy of Rage (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Lung joi gong woo (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
- Zui jia fu xing (1986) .... Movie Patron
... aka Jui gaai fuk sing (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Lucky Stars Go Places (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka My Lucky Stars Go Places
... aka The Luckiest Stars
- Huan chang (1985) .... Bar Customer in Green Shirt
... aka Seven Angels
- Bruce Lee's Dragons Fight Back (1985)
- Fuk sing go jiu (1985) (uncredited) .... Millionaire Chan
... aka Fu xing gao zhao (China: Mandarin title)
... aka Lucky Stars Superior Shine (literal English title)
... aka My Lucky Stars
... aka Winners & Sinners 2: My Lucky Stars (Europe: English title: DVD box title)
- Da gung wong dai (1985) .... Giant Kickboxer
... aka Da gong huang di (China: Mandarin title)
... aka Hit Work Emperor (literal English title)
... aka Working Class
- Juk nei ho wan (1985)
... aka Lucky Diamond
... aka Wish You Good Luck (literal English title)
... aka Zhu nin hai yun (China: Mandarin title)
- Way of the Dragon 2 (1985) (as Sze Yang)
- Yi ren zai jian (1984)
... aka Silent Romance
- Kong xin da shao ye (1983)
... aka Just for Fun
- Mo (1983)
... aka The Boxer's Omen (Hong Kong: English title)
- Shao ye Wei Wei (1983)
... aka Play Catch
- Supergang (1982) (as Yang Sze) .... Big King
... aka An Eye for an Eye Shadow (Philippines: English title)
- Xiong zhong (1982)
... aka Bruce Le Fights Back (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Bruce Le Strikes Back
... aka Eye of the Dragon (USA: video title)
... aka Hung Chung (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Ninja Strikes Back
- Gui ma zhi duo xing (1981)
... aka All the Wrong Clues
... aka All the Wrong Clues for the Right Solution
... aka Gwai ma ji doh sing (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Wrong Clues... Right Solution
- Mad Cold Blooded Murder (1981)
... aka Cold Blooded Murder
- Si wang mo ta (1980) (as Yang See)
... aka Enter the Game of Death
... aka The King of Kung Fu (USA)
- Fearless Master (1980) .... Yang Tze
... aka Fearless Hyena 3 (USA)
- Gymkata Killer (1980) (as Yang Sze)
... aka Challenge of the Tiger (International: English title)
... aka Dragon Bruce Le
... aka San lung maang taam (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Shen long meng tan (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
- Invincible (1980)
... aka Fighting Dragon
- Mi quan san shi liu zhao (1980)
... aka The 36 Deadly Styles (International: English title)
- Treasure of Bruce Le (1980)
... aka King Boxer II
... aka Treasure of Bruce Lee (USA)
- Zui she xiao zi (1980)
... aka Bruce, King of Kung Fu (International: English title)
... aka King of Kung Fu
... aka Revenge of the Dragon
... aka Revenge of the Dragons
- Bruce the Super Hero (1979) (as Yang Sze) .... Bullkiller
... aka Super Hero (USA)
- Diao qin shuang jue (1979)
... aka Gui ma xiao zi gui ma zhao
... aka Invincible Kung Fu (International: English title)
... aka Ruthless Revenge (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka The Two Tricky Kids
- Dragon, the Hero (1979)
... aka Dragon and the Hero
... aka Dragon on Fire
- Enter Three Dragons (1979)
... aka Three Avengers (USA)
- He quan (1979)
... aka Hok kuen (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Fists, the Kicks and the Evil (International: English title)
- She xing zui bu (1979) .... The Giant
... aka Sau ying chiu biu (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Snake Deadly Act
- Wen da (1979) (as Sze Yang) .... Ah-yan Yen
... aka Man ckui (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Writing Kung Fu (International: English title)
- She nu yu chao (1978)
... aka Bruce Lee in New Guinea
... aka Bruce Lee in Snake Island (Australia: DVD title)
... aka Bruce Li in New Guinea
... aka Bruce in New Guinea
... aka Last Fist of Fury
- He Lan Du ren tou (1978) (as Yang Sze) .... Big louie
... aka Amsterdam Connection
- Dragon Lee Fights Again (1978) .... Tan yin
... aka Big Boss II (USA: video title)
... aka Bruce Lee Fights Again
- E yu tou hei sha xing (1978) .... Lu's Henchman
... aka Black Belt Jones 2 (UK)
... aka The Tattoo Connection
- Meng nan da zei yan zhi hu (1978) .... Kimura
... aka Image of Bruce Lee (International: English title)
... aka Maang laam daai chaak yin chi foo (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Storming Attacks
- Shao Lin san shi liu fang (1978)
... aka Disciples of Master Killer
... aka Master Killer (USA: dubbed version)
... aka Shaolin Master Killer (USA: video box title)
... aka The 36th Chamber of Shaolin (Hong Kong: English title: original subtitled version)
... aka The Thirty-sixth Chamber
- Yan bao fu (1978)
... aka Bruce Le's Greatest Revenge (International: English title)
... aka Yan biu fook (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
- 10 Magnificent Killers (1977) (as Yang Szu) .... Ling Chu
- Bolo (1977) .... Bolo
... aka Bolo the Brute
- The Clones of Bruce Lee (1977) .... Martial Arts trainer
- Da mo tie zhi gong (1977)
... aka Bruce and Shao-lin Kung Fu
... aka Bruce vs. Black Dragon
... aka Daat moh tit chi gung (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Shadow of the Snake Wizard (Philippines: English title)
- Gekisatsu! Judo ken (1977)
... aka Soul of Bruce Lee (USA)
... aka Soul of Chiba
... aka The Soul of Bruce Lee (Philippines: English title)
- E tan qun hing ying hui (1976) .... Ram
... aka A Queen's Ransom
... aka International Assassin (USA)
... aka International Assassins
- Long gu jiang (1976) .... Yang
... aka Lung ga cheung (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Big Family
... aka The Last Challenge of the Dragon
- Lung moon bei chi (1976)
... aka Bruce's Deadly Fingers
... aka Bruce's Fingers (International: English title)
... aka Lung moon bei chi (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
- Dong kai ji (1975) (as Yang Tze)
... aka 7 Soldiers of Kung Fu (USA: dubbed version)
... aka All Men Are Brothers (Australia)
... aka Dang kou zhi (China: Mandarin title)
... aka Seven Blows of the Dragon II
... aka Seven Kung Fu Assassins
... aka Turbulent Invade Record (literal English title)
- Meng hu dou kuang long (1975) (as Yang Sze)
... aka Kung Fu Massacre (International: English title)
... aka Maang foo dau kwong lung (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Big Showdown (Hong Kong: English title)
- "G-Men '75" (1975) TV Series
- Hong Kong chiu yan dai po chui fa don (1975)
... aka Bruce: Hong Kong Master (International: English title)
... aka Hong Kong Superman (International: English title)
- Shui yun (1975) (as Bolo Yeung Tze)
... aka He Loved Once Too Many
- "Fight! Dragon" (1974) TV Series
... aka Fighting Dragon (Japan: English title)
- Karateciler istanbulda (1974)
... aka Karate on the Bosphorus (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Mat ling (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Mi ling (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
- Xiao ba wang (1974) (as Sze Yang) .... Tiger
... aka Super Kung Fu Kid (Hong Kong: English title) (International: English title)
... aka Karado: The Kung Fu Flash (International: English title)
... aka Siu ba wong (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Superior Youngster (International: English title)
... aka The Hong Kong Cat (International: English title)
- Yi wang da shu (1973)
... aka Survival of the Dragon (International: English title)
... aka The Thunder Kick (Hong Kong: English title: original subtitled version)
... aka Thunderkick (USA: dubbed version)
- Enter the Dragon (1973) (as Yang Sze) .... Bolo
... aka Long zheng hu dou (Hong Kong: Mandarin title)
... aka Operation Dragon (Europe: English title)
- Da xu hai (1973)
... aka Tiger (Hong Kong: English title)
- Greatest Thai Boxing (1973)
- Ma tou da jue dou (1973) (as Yang Sze) .... Chiang Tai
... aka Black Guide (Philippines: English title)
... aka Chinese Hercules (International: English title)
... aka Freedom Strikes a Blow (USA)
... aka Ma tou shao zi (Taiwan)
... aka The Kid from Pier (Taiwan)
- Ying han gong fu ben (1973) (as Sze Yang)
... aka Aang hong gung foo boon (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Kung Fu's Hero (International: English title)
- Wang ming tu (1972) .... Master Xi's bodyguard
... aka The Fugitive (Hong Kong: English title)
- Shao nai nai de si wa (1972) .... Prince Charming (wrestler)
... aka Intrigue in Nylons (Hong Kong: English title)
- Qun ying hui (1972)
... aka Kwan ying wui (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Iron Bow (International: English title: first part title)
... aka The Tigress (International: English title: second part title)
... aka The White Water Strand (International: English title: third part title)
... aka Trilogy of Swordsmanship (International: English title)
- Chou lian huan (1972)
... aka Man of Iron (Hong Kong: English title: original subtitled version) (USA: dubbed version)
... aka Warrior of Steel
- Shi si nu ying hao (1972)
... aka Fourteen Amazons (Hong Kong: English title)
- Nian qing ren (1972)
... aka Nin heng yan (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Young People
- Tian xia di yi quan (1972) .... Mongolian Fighter
... aka Five Fingers of Death (USA)
... aka Hand of Death
... aka Invincible Boxer
... aka King Boxer (Hong Kong: English title: original subtitled version)
... aka Tin ha dai yat kuen (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
- E ke (1972) (as Sze Yang)
... aka Kung Fu Killers (USA: dubbed version)
... aka The Angry Guest (Hong Kong: English title: original subtitled version)
- Shuang xia (1971) .... The river dragon of jin
... aka The Deadly Duo (International: English title)
- Xie jiu tian lao (1971) .... ChaTe
... aka Huet chow tin liu (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Rescue (Hong Kong: English title)
- Tou tiao hao han (1971) (as Yang Sze) .... Mr. Yang
... aka A Real Man (Taiwan)
... aka Fearless Fighters (International: English title)
- Nu sha shou (1971)
... aka Lui sat sau (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Lady Professional (Hong Kong: English title)
- Wan jian chuan xin (1971)
... aka Maan chin chuen sam (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Oath of Death (International: English title)
- Shi san tai bao (1970) .... General Meng Chieh Hui
... aka Sap sam tai bo (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka The Heroic Ones (Hong Kong: English title: original subtitled version)
... aka Thirteen Warlords (literal English title)
- You xia er (1970) (as Yang Sze) .... 'Unicorn' Du Kuo Lung
... aka The Wandering Swordsman (Hong Kong: English title)
... aka Yau hap yi (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
- Wen da (1979)
... aka Man ckui (Hong Kong: Cantonese title)
... aka Writing Kung Fu (International: English title)
- Bolo (1977)
... aka Bolo the Brute
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